The Mary Rose was a carrack-type warship of the English Tudor Navy of King Henry VIII. Here are some key details:
- Construction: She was built between 1509 and 1511 at Portsmouth, England. The construction was overseen by the shipwrights John Foster and Richard Lee.
- Service Life: The Mary Rose served for 33 years, participating in several conflicts, including the Anglo-French War.
- Sinking: On 19 July 1545, the ship sank in the Battle of the Solent against the French fleet. The exact cause of the sinking remains uncertain, but it is believed to have been due to a combination of factors including overloading and poor maneuverability.
- Rediscovery: The wreck was rediscovered in 1971 by the Mary Rose Trust, led by Alexander McKee. The ship was raised from the seabed in October 1982 after a complex salvage operation.
- Archaeological Significance: The Mary Rose is one of the most well-preserved warships from the 16th century. The artifacts recovered from the ship provide invaluable insights into life aboard a Tudor warship, including personal items, weaponry, and ship's equipment.
- Conservation and Display: After being raised, the ship underwent a long conservation process involving spraying with water and then polyethylene glycol (PEG) to preserve the wood. The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth opened in 2013, where the ship and thousands of artifacts are displayed.
- Research and Education: The Mary Rose has been the subject of extensive archaeological research, contributing significantly to our understanding of maritime history, naval warfare, and daily life during the Tudor period.
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